Supreme Commander of the Alliance,
Lion of Azeroth,[1]
Knight Champion of Azeroth,
Champion of Stormwind,
Knight of the Realm,
King's Champion,
Last of the Arathi,[citation needed]
Lord,
Sir,
Regent Lord

Contents

Biography

Before the wars

Born 51 years before the First War[5] and raised in the Kingdom of Stormwind,[6] Lothar grew up in the royal court as a childhood friend of both the Prince Llane Wrynn and Medivh. The trio shared many adventures in the Azerothian wilderness in their youth such as when they were attacked by jungle trolls in Stranglethorn Vale.[7] Lothar studied battle and history. At a considerably early age, Lothar joined Stormwind's military, quickly becoming part of the King's Honor Guard. He was later knighted and arose to the position of Armsman in the Brotherhood of the Horse.[8] Lothar was so known that his renown was known as far as Lordaeron.[9]

The First War

When the orcs arrived in Azeroth, the new king of Stormwind, Llane Wrynn I continued his father's work, and the battles against the orcs raged on. Llane named Lothar his lieutenant-at-arms.[10] One of Lothar's first task was to recruit more soldiers.[11] While Llane was confident in his army, Lothar was convinced that they should engage the enemy more. During this time, the orcish invaders were held back to the Swamp of Sorrows.

At one point during the War, the Tome of Divinity, a book of great value to the Clerics of Northshire, was stolen by a rogue band of ogres led by the ogre lord Turok. Lothar led an expedition into the ogres' hideout, the Deadmines in Westfall, in an attempt to recover the tome, but were completely overrun and held captive to be killed slowly. Lothar remained imprisoned within the caves for twenty months before he and his few surviving men were saved by Azerothian troops led by the Defender of the Crown sent by the Abbot of Northshire Abbey and King Llane.[12] He retrieved the Tome of Divinity and returned to Stormwind, safeguarding the book at Northshire Abbey.[13] Reintroduced to the conflict, Lothar continued to lead the forces of Stormwind against the orcs.[14]

In the Year 3, Lothar met with Khadgar, the apprentice to his old friend Medivh. When the Champion and the apprentice were alone, Lothar told Khadgar about Medivh's coma and told him that he is worried about the Magus. Some time later, he had a message sent to Karazhan in order to bring Medivh into Stormwind City as he was dealing with the deaths of Hugarin and Huglar. Lothar was shocked when the wizard Khadgar arrived to tell him that the great mage had betrayed humankind by summoning the orcs into Azeroth. Despite this information, Llane could hardly believe that the magus would willingly betray Azeroth and that all his actions could be justified as part of a brilliant scheme. Llane felt confident in Medivh's allegiance and that his army and Medivh would be enough to beat back the Horde. Forced to choose between his convictions and his loyalty to the king, Lothar chose to follow his instincts and personally led a force to storm Karazhan and kill Medivh. The band of troops, along with Lothar, Khadgar, and the half-orc Garona, descended into the lower tower and confronted the mad guardian. Khadgar finally managed to stab Medivh in the heart, and Lothar removed his head with one swipe from his greatsword.[15]

Unfortunately, the death of Medivh could not stop the rampaging onslaught of the Horde. Lothar and his warriors, returning home from Karazhan, hoped to stem the loss of life and save their once-glorious homeland. Instead, they returned too late and found their beloved kingdom in smoking ruins. The orcish Horde continued to ravage the countryside and claimed the surrounding lands for its own. After their courageous king was murdered, the people of Stormwind were forced into hiding, Lothar and his companions swore a grim oath to reclaim their homeland at any cost.[16] Lothar, knowing that the Kingdom of Stormwind had been lost, declared the war lost in Year 4,[17] and decided to save what remained of his once mighty people. He gathered the tattered remnants of the army and as many civilians as he could save and led them in a desperate retreat across the Great Sea, eventually landing upon the shores of Lordaeron.

The Second War

Lothar in the Second War.

Lothar in the Second War.

Lothar in Warcraft II

With Llane dead and Prince Varian still in his minority, Lothar - as Knight-Champion - acted as Varian's regent until Stormwind could be retaken. Once he arrived in the court of King Terenas Menethil II of Lordaeron with Varian and the Archmage Khadgar, the apprentice of Medivh, Lothar told his dire story to all who would listen. Lothar's eloquent pleas ultimately brought the human kingdoms together for an emergency council, where his friend Terenas' masterful politics created the Alliance of Lordaeron. Having been contacted by Terenas with Lothar's tale, the normally aloof high elves sent a contingent of their forces, knowing that they could finally pay off their debt to the Arathi bloodline for saving their lands during the Troll Wars. The Wildhammer dwarves of Aerie Peak were attacked by the Horde as well and quickly pledged themselves to Lothar. The Alliance was later joined by the Bronzebearddwarves and gnomes of Khaz Modan, who had been forced out of their lands by the Horde's advance.

Because of his great skill in warfare and his experience in battling with the orcs, and because the kings of the north were not comfortable placing their troops in the command of a rival nation, Lothar - a neutral party - was named the Supreme Commander of the Alliance forces. During his time in Lordaeron, he was approached by Alonsus Faol who told him how depressed he was when Lothar told him of the fall of Northshire Abbey. To compensate, Alonsus introduced the new class of the paladin to Lothar and asked him to make them his commanders. He accepted and quickly named Turalyon his second-in-command, and Admiral Daelin Proudmoore (his longtime friend),[18]Uther the Lightbringer, and Khadgar as his lieutenants. Lothar was 56 years old by the time the orcs had reached the shores of Lordaeron.[19] Throughout the Second War he led his forces from battle to battle with valor and skill. After the Horde's mysterious retreat from Lordaeron and Grand Admiral Proudmoore's naval victories against the Horde at sea, Lothar led the armies of the Alliance to liberate much of Khaz Modan (meeting up with Muradin and Brann Bronzebeard) and Azeroth, eventually breaching the Black Morass itself. Lord Lothar, seeing that the Horde was fracturing from within, gathered the last of his forces and pushed Doomhammer south, back into the shattered heartland of Stormwind. There, the Alliance forces trapped the retreating Horde within the volcanic fortress of Blackrock Spire. Lothar was killed at the foot of Blackrock Spire after a force of Alliance troops under his command was ambushed by Horde forces.

A statue of Lothar depicting his final charge towards Blackrock Spire.

He became separated from the main body of his troops in what is perhaps the greatest battle in Azeroth's history. Amid the chaos, he was forced into combat with Orgrim Doomhammer, Warchief of the Horde; after a long and draining fight, Lothar was defeated in single combat after his sword was shattered by the Doomhammer, his skull crushed by a powerful blow from the legendary weapon.[20][21]

Doomhammer believed that Lothar's death would break the fighting spirit of his forces, but what happened was quite the opposite. After Lothar's death, his most trusted general, Turalyon, took up his shield and sword and led the armies of the Alliance to eventual victory over the Blackrock Spire's defenses; allowing Lothar's old ally and friend, Khadgar, to later destroy the Dark Portal.

Legacy and memorial

Anduin Lothar of age 57 did not live to see his beloved homeland freed from orc control and rebuilt, but a massive stone statue depicting Lothar in his final charge where he fell in battle was built and still stands in the Burning Steppes, pointing defiantly towards Blackrock Spire. The materials for Lothar's monument had ironically been hauled by orcs put to work after the Second War.[22] Lord Lothar's legacy lives on in all the free peoples of Stormwind. The current king of the nation bears Lothar's name.

Sometime during his life, Lothar wrote what is considered to be the ultimate compendium of battle strategy, simply titled [A Treatise on Strategy]. Lothar's masterwork describes, in his own words, the proper deployment of forces and strategies needed to win almost any battle.[23]

Legion

During the Burning Legion's infiltration of Karazhan, a vision of Lothar and Khadgar can be seen looking over a fallen Medivh just before the battle in the Netherspace. It is phrased shortly after Medivh's death.

Equipment

Three swords have been attributed to Anduin Lothar. It is unclear if these three weapons are related, one and the same, or entirely different weapons. Pieces of his armor have also made significant appearances.

A belt that had once belonged to Lothar came into the possession of the Crimson Ring, a group of slavers and gladiators in Orgrimmar, and was kept in their special armory in the Hall of Legends. The belt was claimed by Varian Wrynn, then known as the gladiator Lo'Gosh, when he was allowed access to that armory. He continues to wear it after he returned to the throne of Stormwind. Varian may be wearing the rest of Lothar's armor as well, given that the design patterns seem to match.

In the cancelled Warcraft Adventures, Lothar’s bloodstained saddle from his last battle at Blackrock Spire found its way to the junkshop of Zul'jin. It is implied that he died on horseback, ”mauled by a group of blood-lusted ogres”.[25] However, in later lore it is implied Zul’jin traveled to the Revantusk Village in the Hinterlands instead of ever peddling items.

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

In World of Warcraft, [Ashkandi, Greatsword of the Brotherhood] can be obtained when slaying Nefarian, Lord of Blackrock. This is also believed to be Lothar's sword;[26] "Brotherhood" is assumed to refer to Lothar's order, Brotherhood of the Horse. The hilt is inscribed with the initials "A.L.", assumed to mean Anduin Lothar. However, judging by its looks, the sword has most likely been altered by Nefarian from its original appearance. Surprisingly, when this weapon was given a description in the Monster Guide, no connection to Anduin Lothar was made.

In the RPG

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft RPG and is considered non-canon.

Personality

Lothar is a strong and highly charismatic leader, capable of commanding attention and radiating determination and conviction to those serving under him. Though most often appearing emotionless, he is deeply passionate about his friends and countrymen. His loyalty is first and foremost to the people of Azeroth, and he will fight with the full extent of his considerable skills in battle till his homeland is reclaimed.[20]

In combat Lothar, as a knight works best as part of the cavalry, charging into his enemies with Quel’Zaram, preferring to outmaneuver enemy commanders, but retreating when prudent. He is at his peak when commanding others. Following Medivh's betrayal, Lothar has a profound respect for spellcasters, and will target them, hammering through lesser warriors to reach wizards and sorcerers in the rear.[20]

Quotes

"Llane, don’t let your security blind you! If we cannot count on Magus Medivh as an ally, we are weakened. If we discount the capabilities of the orcs, we are lost. Listen to what they are saying!"[28]

"His Majesty has an abiding faith in the strength of the people of Azeroth and the thickness of the walls of Stormwind. It doesn’t hurt that he also has good people who take care of things when he’s wrong."[29]

The name "Lothar" might be derived from Chlothar, meaning "famous army", from the Germanic elements "hlud" (fame) and "heri" (army). This was the a 9th-century Frankish king, the son of Louis I, who ruled the region called Lorraine - or Lothringen in German. Rulers of the Holy Roman Empire have also had this name.

His title, "the Lion of Azeroth", may be inspired by Gustav II Adolf, a Swedish king who was sometimes called "the Lion of the North".

An unused NPC representing Lothar is situated in the same ID range as other legendary warriors presumably meant to appear in Skyhold. He and most of these NPCs didn't make it out of the Legion alpha stage.

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